FASHION SHOW Fashionistas in the know say Planet Gemini will be the hottest place on the Peninsula tonight-beautiful people, beautiful clothing and lots of fun free stuff. Wearing fashions by Venue, makeup by M.A.C and hair styles by Head Games, some 25 of the area''s top female models with do their thing on the catwalk, while the rest of us (also beautiful people) dine on free food catered by Benihana, sample free gifts from KDON, Venue, M.A.C. and all the other show sponsors, and grove to Planet Gemini''s beats. And, of course, take notes on what hipsters will be wearing this season. Look for lots of denim, faux fur and pleather, hip-hop style. Think J. Lo''s look. After the fashion show, stick around for stand-up and an after-party/dance-party.

DOORS OPEN AT 8PM, FASHION SHOW STARTS AT 9PM. PLANET GEMINI, 625 CANNERY ROW, MONTEREY. FREE ADMITTANCE BEFORE 8:30PM, $6 AFTER. 373-1449.

Going

MIND MAGIC SHOW Be it known that in his four theatrical Mind Magic shows this weekend, Bryan Quinn will not reveal any embarrassing thoughts held by audience members, channel anyone''s dead uncle, pull bunnies from hats or saw women in half. But he does promise to read almost every audience member''s mind (so keep it clean, even though he''s discreet), duplicate unseen pictures drawn by volunteers and teach folks to read minds. As a "mentalist," Quinn describes himself not as a psychic or magician, but as a theatrical entertainer who performs mind reading and other feats. He''s taken his humorous show to corporate events and exclusive private parties, and now he brings it to the Barbary Coast for an evening of amazement and giggles.

8PM THURS-SAT, 2PM SUN. BARBARY COAST THEATRE, 320 HOFFMAN, MONTEREY. $15 GENERAL/$10 SENIORS AND ACTIVE MILITARY. 655-4992.

friday 6|21

The High School

ART OPENING Like the skater in Cannery Row, Michael Thomas Kainer has spent long hours enjoying the view from the top of PG''s Holman Building. The plein-air painter, determined to capture the view from the historic property, left his studio inside the building and clambered onto the rooftop to paint the overhead view of sea, sky and the town''s familiar buildings. The resulting paintings, grouped together as A Bird''s Eye View of PG, are a collective portrait of the here and now, delivered with the understanding that Things Will Change and imbued with the bittersweetness that realization brings. Along with Kainter''s scenes, the Lisa Coscino Gallery is showing the work of San Francisco painter Gregg Chadwick, whose film-inspired portraits strive to capture fleeting beauty. "There are movies buried in the paint," he says. Both artists will attend tonight''s reception.

6PM. LISA COSCINO GALLERY, 171 CENTRAL AVE, PACIFIC GROVE. FREE. 646-1939.

Papa''s Got A Brand New Bag

J.C.SMITH BAND Until now, J.C. Smith was known as a drummer-most recently with San Francisco''s legendary Back to Back Blues Band. He is also known as a radio star named Johnnie Cozmic, host of a popular blues program on the Cupertino-based KKUP. For his new gig, Smith has picked up a Gibson 365 guitar and moved up to the front of the stage, where he leads a band of veteran bluesmen, including Bernard Anderson on sax and vocals, Richard Palmer on keys and Tim Richard on drums. The new band''s CD, Midnight Creeper, has received good notices while its live show has helped develop a strong Bay Area and East Bay following. As it always does during the Monterey Bay Blues Fest weekend, Sly''s will be rockin'' tonight.

9PM. SLY MCFLY''S, 700 CANNERY ROW, MONTEREY. 649-8050.

Only

JAPANESE AMERICAN POETRY Watsonville resident Lawson Fusao Inada and his family spent much of World War II in an internment camp, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans. Now an award-winning poet and educator at Southern Oregon State University, Inada appears tonight and tomorrow at Monterey''s Japanese-American Citizens League hall to discuss his wartime experiences and read from his poetry. Inada''s first collection of poems, Before the War (1971), was the first volume of poetry by an Asian American to be released by a major New York publishing house. His second won an American Book Award. He is the editor of several anthologies of Asian American literature, including the 2000 book, Only What We Could Carry: The Japanese American Internment Experience.

POETRY READING TONIGHT AT 7:30. TICKETS AT THE DOOR, $10/GENERAL; $5/JACL AND TOR HOUSE FOUNDATION MEMBERS AND STUDENTS. SATURDAY AT 2PM, "ONLY WHAT WE COULD CARRY," A DISCUSSION OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, WITH RECEPTION FOLLOWING. FREE. BOTH EVENTS AT THE JACL HALL, 424 ADAMS ST, MONTEREY (ACROSS FROM THE MONTEREY SPORTS CENTER). 624-1813.

Blues

MONTEREY BAY BLUES FESTIVAL The three-day jam is back with Taj Mahal, Teddy Pendergrass, Bobby Bland, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Sista Monica, John Mayall, Coco Montoya and more. For complete story and schedule, see pg. 13.

7PM FRI, 11:30AM SAT, 1PM SUN. MONTEREY FAIRGROUNDS, MONTEREY. $20 FRI, $25 SAT OR SUN, OR $60 ALL THREE DAYS. 394-2652 OR MBBF@MONTEREYBLUES.COM.

Tall, Tall, Really Tall Ships

THE GUAYAS RETURNS Four hundred years have come and gone since Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino and his crew of 186 men left Ecuador bound for Monterey. The same vessel that carried the hopes and dreams of those men is still used as a training ship for the Ecuadoran Navy, and earlier this week it sailed proudly into Monterey harbor. This morning at 9am it anchors at Wharf II, to the roar of cannon fire. Public tours today and tomorrow at 11am, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 10am. The celebration continues on Saturday at 10 am. when the Guayas Band will march through the streets of Monterey to the Custom House. A historical reenactment of a customs clearing will begin at 10:30 am, and at noon the band gives a salsa concert at the Steinback Plaza on Cannery Row. More free salsa music Sunday at noon on Fisherman''s Wharf, and on Tuesday the boys from the Guayas take to the stage at 5pm at the Monterey Market Place on Alvarado St. The City of Monterey still needs families (or pretty girls) to host the Ecuadoran sailors for dinner Sunday at 4pm.

FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING, MONTEREY''S WHARF II AND VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO HOST A SAILOR, CALL WAYNE DALTON AT 646-3781 OR GO TO WWW.MONTEREYQUAD.ORG

saturday 6|22

Hide ''n'' Seek

HIDDEN GARDENS TOUR This is a wonderful time of year to venture out to Big Sur to view nature at its best, especially as the Big Sur Arts Initiative is holding its annual garden tour and fundraiser. A free arts and crafts market at Big Sur''s Ripplewood Resort on Highway One is part of the fun. (See story pg 34).

SELF-DRIVE GARDEN TOUR FROM 10AM TO 4PM. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE DRIVING MAP WHEN THEY PURCHASE TICKETS, $45 PER PERSON. 667-1530.

Bagpipes and Kilts

CELTIC CELEBRATION World-class peformers let loose with Irish and Scottish music at this annual festival of Celtic song and dance. The world champion Marc Tarnahanís Prince Charles Pipe Band, a 37-year-old non-profit that helps young people learn to play the pipes and drums, will be joined on-stage by Molly''s Revenge Ceilidh band, the Deeley/Smith Irish dancers, and Scottish Highland dancers. Ten-year old Michael Thurin, a top ten finisher from the 2002 World Irish Dancing Championship, will toe-tap with the Deeleys. Lots of Celtic music and fun, and all proceeds go towards the bands'' travel and equipment expenses.

7PM. SANTA CATALINA SCHOOL''S PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE, MARK THOMAS DRIVE, MONTEREY. $15 FOR ADULTS, $10 FOR SENIORS, FREE FOR 10 & UNDER. 624-7350.

sunday

BLUES JAM AT SLY''S One of the coolest things about the Monterey Bay Blues Festival this weekend is an unofficial event that takes place after the real gig is over. There''s no telling who will show up at Sly''s tonight, but if years past are any indication, it will be memorable, as world-class musicians, many of whom hold a special place in their hearts for Cannery Row''s blues haven, get together and jam. This year''s festivities will be hosted by our own John "Broadway" Tucker. Because of the nature of the MoBay festival, which blends blues genres generously, interesting lineups can and do occur.

8:30PM-ISH. SLY MCFLY''S, 700 CANNERY ROW, MONTEREY. 649-8050.